Maurice Sendak

An eternal twilight reigns over Maurice Sendak's pages: dark cross-hatching, thick outlines, ominous skies. All his characters, human and beast alike, are lumpy and big-headed and seem to be part potato. But they're capable of great joy in spite of it all. They kick up their heavy limbs and grin toothy grins as if to say, Yes, the world is dark. We're going to have a damn good time of it anyway. Let the wild rumpus start!

Sendak's art made its way into every medium--movies, operas, ballet--but he was best known for his picture books, which never participate in the adult...